Vending machine



March 10, 1942. L] PRINS VENDING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 23, 1938 March 10, 1942. pRlNs 2,275,985

VENDING MACHINE ,1

Filed Feb. as, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 10, 1942. L. PRINS VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1958.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 imnmu Patented Mar. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENDING MACHINE Leendert Prins, Flushing, N. Y. Application February 23, 1938, Serial No. 192,126

Claims.

This invention relates to machines for vending cigars, and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine of this kind which is of a small portable nature and especially suitable for being placed upon dining tables in restaurants and the like for the convenience of patrons.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine of the above character which is comparatively simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, as well as emcient in operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cigar vending machine and cigar package therefor, which comply with all of the legal requirements with regard to machines and packages of this kind. The present invention particularly provides for delivering the cigars directly from the original stamped package, and all Of the revenue stamp remains on the package until the contents are sold. In addition, the package is plainly visible so as to display the internal revenue stamp at all times.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a vending machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof loaded with a package of cigars and taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 6, with parts broken away to reveal other parts.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 taken substantially on the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 6.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line 55 of Figure 6.

Figure 6 is a central vertical sectional view of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a perspective View of the cigar package adapted foruse in the present machine as illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, with the Cellophane wrapper of the package removed preparatory to placing the package in the machine.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 of the complete package; and

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of that portion of the package which is placed in the machine and which is shown in Figure 7.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present vending machine includes a rotatable magazine adapted for reception of a special package of cigars and composed of a vertical drum 5 having end walls 6 and I provided with central circular openings 8 and 9 through which extends a vertical cylindrical shaft 10. The drum 5 is provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced radial vanes ll so as to provide the magazine with a circular series of pockets, and the bottom end wall of drum 5 projects outwardly beyond the periphery of said drum as at l2 so as to close the lower ends of the pockets and to afford a support for the cigar package, as will later become apparent. g

The rotatable magazine above described is arranged within a casing having a cylindrical body I 3 formed of transparent material and preferably consisting of a suitably shaped sheet of transparent Celluloid whose vertical edges are spaced apart to provide an opening M at the front of the'machine extending the full length of the magazine and with which the pockets of the magazine are adapted to be successively registered when the magazine is rotated stepby step, to permit removal of the cigars, one at a time. The vertical edges of the body I 3 are preferably received in longitudinally folded metal strips l5, and at other points the body I3 is reinforced by wider vertical or longitudinal metal strips Hi. The upper end of the body I3 is fitted and riveted or otherwise secured within a metal ring I! to which the upper ends of metal strips l5 and [6 are secured by riveting or the like, and it will be noted that the body I3 is of a length to extend below the bottom of the magazine as shown clearly in Figure 6. The

l3, immediately lower end portion of the body below the bottom of the magazine, is encircled by the upper cylindrical portion I8 of an ornamental base ring having a flared lower portion I 9. The upper portion 18 of the base ring has spaced flanges 20 turned toward each other so as to provide a holder adapted'for reception of a strip 2| containing suitable advertising matter. The flanges 20 are omitted directly below the opening l4 and at this point the portion I 8 of the base ring is provided with a coin slot 22. Arranged within the lower portion IQ of the base ring is a hollow base 23 having a removable bottom 24, and resting at its margin upon the base 23 is a plate 25having a marginal channel 26 receiving the lower end of the transparent body I3 of the casing. The strips 1 5 and I6 project below the bottom of thebody I 3 and through slots in the margin of. the plate 25 and the top of base 23 as generally indicated at 21, the lower ends of said strips l5 and I6 being detachably bolted to the base 23 as shown at 28 in Figure 5. The body I3 is provided with a removable cover 29, and suitable means is provided at 30 to releasably engage ring H for locking this cover on the body against unauthorized removal. A handle or knob 3| is provided for manually turning shaft l6, and this handle or knob may have a stem 32 secured and journaled in the cover 29 and provided in its lower end with a polygonal socket 33 for snug reception of the reduced polygonal upper end portion 34 of said shaft ID.

This provides a separable driving connection be-.

tween the handle or knob 3| and shaft I which.

allows removal of cover 29 for facilitating reloading of the magazine whenever necessary.

Coin released means is provided for locking the.

magazine against rotation, and the means shown includes a toothed wheel or disk 35 flatly disposed on top of the base 23 and rotatably arranged on an upstanding boss 36 carried by the top wall of base 23. The toothed disk 35 has teeth corresponding in number to the number of pockets or compartments provided in the magazine, and rigid with and rising from said disk 35 are a plurality of pins 31 having reduced upper ends 38 extending into openings 35 provided in the bottom end wall 6 of the magazine, so as to provide a driving connection between the disk 35 and said magazine. By reducing the upper ends of the pins 31, the latter are provided near their upper ends with shoulders as at 46 engaging the bottom end wall 6 of the magazine so that the latter is supported by the pins 31 in spaced relation to and above the base 23. Spring pressed pawls 4| are pivoted to the top of base 23 and associated with the toothed disk 35 so as to prevent backward rotation of the magazine, said pawls being arranged so that one of them is always active. It will be noted that the strips l and I6 extend through the plate 25 so that the latter is prevented from turning. Th plate 25 is upwardly offset or embossed as clearly shown in Figure 6 so as to provide a space between the major portion of said plate 25 and the top of base 23. Arranged in this space is a large similarly shaped disk 42 having a plurality of relatively large openings 43 through which the pins 31 loosely project for allowing limited turning movement of the plate 42 relative to said notched disk 35. The plate 42 has an upstanding pin 44, and connecting the pin 44 with one of the pins 31 isahelical tension spring 45 by means of which the plate 42 is normally held in a position relative to toothed disk 35 wherein the pins 31 engage corresponding sides of the openings 43 to permit the limited rotation of plate 42 in a clockwise Y direction as viewed in top plan and shown in Figure 3. A driving connection is provided between the lower end of shaft H) and plate 42 consisting of a spider 46 arranged on the boss 36 and having legs provided with downturned outer ends 41 snugly engaging in further smaller openings 48 provided in the plate 42, the lower end of shaft l0 having a reduced terminal of angular form engaging in a corresponding central opening of spider 46 as generally indicated at 49. The spider 46 is disposed within a large central opening in plate 25 so that the latter offers no obstruction to passage of ends 41 through said plate 25 to engage the opening 48. It will thus'be seen that when the shaft I6 is manually turned by the knob or handle 3|, spider 43 will also be turned so as to rotate plate 42 ina clockwise direction. for the limited distance allowed by the clearance of pins 31 in the larger openings 43, against the tension of springs 45. The toothed disk 35 is normally locked against turning movement'in a clockwise direction by means of a pivoted spring-pressed dog 53 mounted on top of the base 23 in position to engage between the teeth of toothed disk 35, and this limited rotation of plate 42 is utilized to effect movement of a coin deposited in the machine for a sufficient distance to permit the coin to cause momentary release of dog 50 so that the magazine may be rotated a sufficient distance to bring a new pocket of the magazine in registry with the opening M of the casing. The plate 42 is provided with peripheral notches 5| corresponding to the size of the particular denomination of coin required to operate the machine, the

, notches 5| corresponding in number to the number of pockets in the magazine. The stationary plate 25 has a marginal opening 52 which is also of the same size as the coin mentioned and which is disposed directly inwardly of and below the coin slot 22. Thus, when a coin is inserted in the slot 22 it will drop into the opening 52 and find its way into the particular notch 5| of plate 42 which is registered with the opening 52 at the time. Any suitable means may be provided for guiding the coin into the opening 52. Carried by the base 23 and projecting upwardly through the top of the latter directly outwardly of one end of dog 53 is a guide plate or abutment 53 arranged directly at one side of the opening 52 and spaced from the adjacent end of dog 50 a distance slightly less than the diameter of the coin necessary to operate the present machine. This distance is accurately secured by providing the abutment 53 with suitable adjusting means such as a screw 54 passing through the abutment 53 and impinging the outer wall of base 23 beneath the top of the latter. Thus, when a coin is received in a notch 5| of the plate 42 and shaft I6 is operated to turn plate 42, the coin will be forced between the abutment or guide 53 and the opposed end of dog 56 so as to swing the latter to released position as indicated by dotted lines in Figure l. When this occurs the shaft I0 may be rotated slightly further in a clockwise direction so as to bring the next pocket of the magazine in registry with the opening M of the casing and simultaneously effect passage of the coin beyond the end of dog 56 so that it will engage in the next notch of toothed disk 35 and thereby prevent further turning movement of the magazine in a clockwise direction. The plate 42 is immediately returned to its normal position with respect to toothed disk 35 by means of spring 45, so that the machine is ready for the next operation. Backward movement of the magazine cannot be effected because of the active one of the pawls 4|. The plate 25 acts to confine the coin within the notch 5| of plate 42 when said coin is shifted from the opening 52. The marginal openings 55 providedin the stationary plate 25 are smaller in size than the coin necessary to operate the machine, and simply provide for viewing the coins within the machine without opening the latter. In case the coins may not properly gravitate into the opening 52 and th notch 5| registered therewith, it may be moved until it does, by means of a suitable slender object inserted upwardly through the base 23 through a tube 56 arranged between the top and bottom walls of base 23 and registered with openings in said walls in line with the opening 52. The top through which the coins may ultimately drop from the notches 54 of plate 42 into a tube 58 registered with the opening 51 and a further opening 59 provided in the removable bottom 24 of the base, said tube 58 extending from top to bottom of the base and acting as a coin receptacle. A plate 60 is slidably mounted upon the removable bottom 24 and has a portion 6| arranged to cover the opening 59 and retain the coins in the magazine or tube 58 until the plate 60 is shifted so as to uncover the opening 59 and permit the coins to drop out of the base for collection by an authorized person.

The shaft is provided at its lower end with a detachable extension having a reduced cylindrical intermediate portion 62 journaled in the boss 36 and provided with a further reduced screw threaded upper end 63 removably threaded into a socket 64 provided in the lower end of said shaft 10. The larger lower portion 65 of this shaft extension affords a shoulder at 66 abutting the bottom of stud 36 so that when the shaft extension is attached to shaft II] the spider 46 is effectively clamped between the shoulders on the lower end of shaft l 0 and the stud 36, the plate 42 and toothed disk 35 being at the same time confined by spider 46 upon the top of base 23 against vertical displacement although free to rotate about stud 36. The lower portion 65 of the shaft extension is preferably of polygonal form so as to facilitate its rotation for detaching the same from shaft l0 when the bottom 24 of base 23 is removed. This allows ready removal of parts for repair and facilitates assembly of the machine.

The plate 60 is slidably mounted on the bottom 24 of base 23 by means of headed pins 61 carried by bottom 24 and engaging in elongated slots 68 of said plate 60. Plate 60 has a further elongated slot 69, one end of which is of narrower width as indicated at 70, and the shaft extension is provided at its lower end with a headed terminal H extending through the slot 69 and into an opening in the bottom 24. The arrangement is such that when the plate 60 is slid outwardly to its extreme limit of movement, the narrower end portion 10 of slot 69 is engaged with the shank of terminal H above the head of the latter, thereby effectively securing the bottom 24 in place. On the other hand, by sliding the plate 60 inwardly, the wider portion of slot 69 is disposed coincident with the headed terminal II, and the head of this terminal is of such size that it will freely pass through such wider portion of slot 69, thereby permitting removal of the botknown or preferred construction, the portion 19 of the base ring and the side wall of base 23 being provided with registered openings at 13 to permit insertion of the key into the lock for operating the latter. Preferably, the lock is of such construction as to prevent removal of the key when the plate 60 is unlocked so that locking of said plate 60 is necessary prior to removal of the key. Arrangments of this kind are known in the lock art and form no specific part of the present invention. As shown, the lock includes a part 14 adapted to be rotated by the key and having 9. lug '15 adapted to be turned into or out of a slot 16 provided in the top of base 23. Obviously, when the lug 15 is engaged in slot 16, the plate 60 will be effectively secured in its outwardly moved position wherein the bottom 24 is secured in place. By disengaging lug 15 from slot 16, the plate 60 may be slid inwardly to release the bottom 24, as will be apparent. It will also be seen that when the plate 69 is slid inwardly to release the bottom 24, the opening 59 will be uncovered so as to permit discharge of the coins collected in the tube 58. Any suitable means may be provided for preventing the bottom 24 from dropping off at this time although permitting its intentional removal. For this purpose, the bottom 24 may fit tightly on the upper portion of base 23 or may be secured thereto by suitable fastening screws extending through telescopically associated walls of the bottom 24 and the upper portion of the base in a generally well known or elementary manner practiced in connection with various casing constructions. Thus, removal of bottom 24 is only necessary when it is desired to gain access to the interior of base 23 and parts arranged therein.

The top of base 23 has a relatively large opening TI, and loosely projecting downwardly through this opening is a pin i8 rigid with and depending from dog 50. This pin 78 is arranged in the path of an upstanding cam flange 19 provided on one side of plate 60, and the arrangement is such that when the plate 60 is slid inwardly the cam flange 19 actuates pin 18 so as'to release dog from the teeth of toothed wheel 35, thereby freeing the magazine and permitting rotation of the plate 42 therewith by manipulation of knob 3| so that all coins in the notches '5! of plate 42 may be moved to opening 51 for to prevent further manual rotation thereof un- I less a coin is inserted in the machine. This is accomplished simultaneously with closing of opening 59 and fastening of bottom 24 in place.

This condition is maintained against unauthorized persons as soon as the lock is operated to I engage lug 15 in slot 16 to lock the plate in its outwardly moved position. It might be noted at this time that the stationary plate 25 does not interfere with the rotation of plate 42 and notched disk 35 because the pins 31 and 44 project upwardly through a relatively large central opening 80 of said stationary plate 25. It is also pointed out that, due to the upwardly embossed form of plate 42, coins inserted in the notches 5! of plate 42 are exposed at the inner sides of said notches for engaging the dog 50 in the manner hereinbefore described, the coins engaging the guide or abutment 53 at their outer sides where the notches 5! are open.

The package containing the cigars and adapted for use in the present machine is preferably of the construction illustrated in Figures 7 to 9 inclusive. As shown, the package consists .of a circular member formed from a continuous strip of material by corrugatingor bending the strip transversely so as to form a circular series of cigar pockets 8! and divisions 82- between the pockets having spaced walls adapted to receive the wings or divisions H of themagazine therebetween. The pockets 8| correspond substantially in size and number to the pockets of the magazine, and it will be seen that the package is Secured to the top of this circular pocketed member and closing its pockets at their upper ends is a disk 83 having a central opening 84 to permit passage of the shaft' l therethrough when the package'is placed on the magazine. One of the pockets of the magazineis never usedor occupied by a cigar, and this particular pocket'is the one initially exposed at the opening M of the casing. At this point, the circular pocketed member of the package is devoid of a pocket and provided with a peripheral wall 85, preferably where the ends of the strip of material are overlapped and secured together. It will be apparent that the rigid metallic wings or divisions H of the magazine will prevent access to the pockets at either side of the opening M of the casing, and a pocket containing a cigar must be brought in registry with the: opening l4 before the cigar can be removed. The package also includes a band 86 snugly secured to and encircling the lower end portion of the circular pocketed member of the package as shown clearly in Figures 6 and 7. This band 86 acts as a means to prevent outward displacement of the cigars from the pockets 8| at the lower ends of the latter, and the bottom walls of the pockets 8| may be formed on this band in manufacture of the package, the spaces between the walls of the partitions 82 being left open at the bottom so that the divisions H of the magazine may freely pass between said walls when the package is placed onto the magazine. It will also be apparent that the band 85 serves to assist the disk 83 in retaining the circular pocketed member of the package in its circular shape, and the government revenue stamp 81 may be placed on the band 86 so that it will not be injured or defaced in the vending machine and will at all times be visible through the transparent body |3 of the casing as the cigars are vended from the original package. When all of the cigars are sold the package may be removed and completely destroyed along with the revenue stamp. The original package further includes a suitable wrapper 88, preferably of Cellophane or the like completely enveloping the parts 83 and 86 and the member provided with the pockets 8| as shown in Figure 8, the wrapper being folded and sealed on the ends as illustrated. Obviously, in loading the machine with this package, it is simply necessary to remove this wrapper and place the remaining portion of the package as illustrated in Figure '7 onto the magazine when the cover 29 has been unlocked and removed. The cover is then replaced and locked, whereupon the machine is ready for use. As a pocket 8| containing a cigar is exposed at the opening l4 of the casing, the cigar may be readily grasped and removed by the customer because the upper portion of said pocket is open. It is of course desirable to place the cigars in individual Cellophane or like wrappers for the purpose of maintaining the cigars fresh and for sanitary purposes.

In using the present machine, a coin is inserted in the slot 22 and such coin passes into opening 52 of plate 25 and then gravitates into the notch of plate 42 which is registered therewith. The plate 42 is then turned by operating knob or handle 3| so as to shift the coin between dog 50 and guide plate 53, thereby effecting release of dog 5|] from notched wheel 35 before the latter is turned at all. This limited turning of plate 42 is permitted by reason of the fact that openings 43 of plate 42 are sufficiently large as adapted to'be slipped endwise onto the magazine.

to not allow pins 31 to prevent the same. When the dog 50 has thus been released, the pins 3'| will be engaged with the opposite sides of opening 43 from that illustrated in Figure 3, the spring 45 being stretched or under tension. Further clockwise rotation of plate 42 results in movement of the coin past the dog 50 so that the latter is allowed to promptly engage in the next notch of toothed wheel 35, thereby locking the magazine against further rotation. By this time, a pocket 8| containing a cigar has been brought in registry with the opening M of the casing and may be removed by the customer. While this has occurred, backward rotation of the magazine has been constantly prevented by the dogs 4|, and it will be apparent that access can only be had to that particular pocket of the package which has been exposed at the opening I4 of the casing. Upon releasing the knob 3| the spring 45 returns the plate 42 to its normal position with respect to the pins 31 and notch disk 35 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, and the machine is then ready for another operation With a notch 5| of plate 42 accurately registered with the coin opening 52 of plate 35. As successive coins are placed in the machine, they are carried around on top of the base 23 until they reach the opening 51, whereupon they pass downwardly into the tube 58 for collection. The manner in which the opening 59 is opened for permitting removal of the coins from the tube 58 has been previously explained, and when the cigars have all been sold from the particular package placed in the machine, such empty packages may be removed and completely destroyed along with the revenue stamp 81 and a new filled Package may be placed on the magazine.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. The machine is actually comparatively compact and simple, as well as ornamental and efficient. It provides for effectively carrymg out the stated objects of the invention, particularly inproviding a small light and portable machine suitable for use upon dining tables in restaurants or the like. Obviously, the invention is susceptible of considerable modification and variations in the details of construction illustrated and described, and such modifications and changes are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

It will of course be understood that the present machine may be used for the vending of articles other than cigars, such as candy, pencils, etc. In such event, the special cigar package would obviously not be necessary.

What I claim as new is:

l. Vending apparatus comprising, in combination, an upright casing, said casing including a body provided with a vertical delivery opening and a removable cover for the top of said body, a magazine mounted in the casing for rotation about a vertical axis and having peripheral pockets with rigid vertical divisions between them, said pockets being open at the top and arranged to be successively registered with said delivery opening, said magazine having means closing the lower ends of the pockets and adapted to form a rest fora package ofslender articles placed vertically upon the magazine so as to dispose onearticle in each pocket and a vertical shaft on. which saidmagazine is mounted, said shaft having a removable operatingknob above-said cover, and means operatively connecting the lower end of said shaft with the bottom of the magazine.

2. In a vending machine, a base, a vertical shaft journaled in and projecting upwardly from said base, an intermittently revoluble article magazine arranged above said base and through which said shaft rotatably extends, said magazine having a peripheral series of radially disposed article-receiving pockets, a hollow body secured on said base and encasing said magazine, said body having a delivery opening with which the pockets of said magazine are adapted to be successively registered, a removable cover for said body, an operating handle for said shaft carried by and journaled in said cover, and a separable connection between said handle and said shaft affording a driving connection between said handle and the upper end of said shaft when the cover is applied to said body and permitting detachment of the handle from the shaft when the cover is removed fromsaid body.

3. In a vending machine, a base, a vertical shaft journaled in and projecting upwardly from said base, an intermittently revoluble article magazine arranged above said base and through which said shaft rotatably extends, said magazine having a peripheral series of radially disposed article-receiving pockets, a hollow body secured on said base and encasing said magazine, an operating handle on the upper end of said shaft, said body having a delivery opening with which the pockets of said magazine are adapted to be successively registered, coin-controlled means disposed between the base and the magazine for normally locking said magazine against rotation, and a rotatable coin receiver concentric with and operable by said shaft for actuating said locking means to release the magazine and then permitting return of said locking means to locking position after rotating the magazine the distance of one pocket, upon each insertion of a coin in said coin receiver.

4. An article package for vending machines having a rotatable magazine provided with peripheral pockets with rigid divisions between them, comprising a circular member formed from a continuous strip bent transversely to form a circular series of article pockets and divisions between the pockets having spaced walls adapted to receive the divisions of the magazine therebetween, a centrally apertured disk secured to the top of said circular member and closing the upper ends of the pockets of the latter, the ends of said strip being overlapped and secured together to provide a peripheral wall portion arranged to cover one pocket of the magazine, a band snugly secured to and surrounding an end portion of said circular member and having formed thereon bottom walls for the pockets of said circular member, and a wrapper secured about said circular member, said disk and said band.

5. In a vending machine, a base, a vertical shaft journaled in and projecting upwardly from said base, an operating handle on the upper end of said shaft, a rotatable article magazine mounted on said shaft, a rotatable element concentric with said shaft between said base and said magazine, a driving connection between said rotatable element and said magazine including supporting means for the latter, a rotatable coin-receiving element keyed to the lower end of said shaft, a lost motion driving connection between said coin-receiving element and said rotatable element aifording limited rotation of said coin-receiving element relative to the magazine, and means associated with said rotatable element for normally locking the magazine against rotation, said last-named means being releasable by a coin inserted in said coin-receiving member for permitting limited turning of the magazine subsequent to such limited turning of the coin-receiving member relative to said rotatable element.

LEENDERT PRINS. 

